Qualifying for the Daytona 500 is a different with the Budweiser Duel Qualifying Races,
see the rules below or see the 2015 Budweiser Duel's page.

To the Back: #31-Newman(engine);

Setting The Daytona 500 Grid:
* The two fastest qualifiers set starting positions one and two.
* The highest 15 finishers in each Duel race - excluding the front row - will earn spots in the Daytona 500, filling positions 3-32.
* Based on their finishing position in the first Duel race, the top 15 line up on the inside row (odd-number starting positions).
* Based on their finishing position in the second Duel race, the top 15 will line up on the outside row (even-number starting positions).
* Positions 33-36 go to the four fastest cars from qualifying that have not already earned a spot.
* Positions 37-42 are provisional positions and go to the highest six cars in previous season owner points that have not already qualified via the Duel or Coors Light Pole qualifying.
* The 43rd starting position will be assigned to any car owner who has the most recent eligible past Sprint Cup champion who did not make the field by any other method, providing the driver competed in the previous Sprint Cup season. If the 43rd spot remains unused it will be assigned to the next highest car in previous season owner points not already locked into the field.

Johnson wins Budweiser Duel 2: #48-Jimmie Johnson won the second Budweiser Duel qualifying race for the Daytona 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway for his 2nd career Duel win. #18-Busch finished 2nd followed by #19-Edwards, #16-Biffle, #78-Truex Jr., #21-Blaney, #44-Soresnon, #66-Wallace #51-Allgaier and #10-Patrick.
There was a late race accident when #11-Hamlin tapped #10-Patrick, causing the #10 to spin collecting #32-Labonte and #62-Scott. Patrick was able to get back on track and race her way into the Daytona 500, but Scott failed to make the race and Labonte had to use a past champions provisional.
Four drivers deep in 2013 owners points or low qualifying speed, raced into the Daytona 500: #21-Blaney (6th), #44-Sorenson(7th), #51-Allgaier(8th), #66-Wallace(9th), #10-Patrick(10th), #38-Gilliland(13th) and #34-Ragan(14th). #32-Bobby Labonte used the past champions provisional to make the race.
Missing the Daytona 500: #7-Bowman, #26-Jeb Burton, #29-Marks, #30-Hornaday, #62-Scott & #98-Wise.
There were 3 cautions for 12 yellow flag laps. There were 7 lead changes among 5 drivers. The average speed was 144.724mph.
See race results on the Budwesier Duel 1 Race Results page (pdf).(2-19-2015)

Earnhardt Jr. wins Budweiser Duel 1: #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the first Budweiser Duel qualifying race for the Daytona 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway. It was Earnhardt Jr.'s 4th Budweiser Duel race win. Daytona 500 pole winner, #24-Gordon finished 2nd, followed by #14-Stewart, #15-Bowyer, #4-Harvick, #5-Kahne, #1-McMurray, #40-Cassill and #35-Whitt. Six drivers deep in 2014 owners points or low qualifying speed raced into the Daytona 500: #40-Cassill (9th), #35-Whitt(10th), #95-McDowell(12th), #23-Yeley (13th), #46-Annett(14th) and #33-Ty Dillon (16th). Daytona 500 pole winner #24-Gordon ran up front all race and finished 2nd, leading 6 laps. Four drivers who didn't race into the Daytona 500 will make the race via speed or 2014 owners points (provisional spot): #20-Kenseth, #2-Keselowski, #43-Almirola and #6-Bayne. #47-Allmendinger, #13-Mears and #83-Sauter could still make the race depending on the finish of the 2nd Duel.
#30-Hornaday and #29-Marks will not race in the Daytona 500.
There were 3 cautions for 13 yellow flag laps. There were 9 lead changes among 5 drivers. The average speed was 144.462mph.
See race results on the Budwesier Duel 1 Race Results page (pdf)(2-19-2015)

Jeff Gordon wins Daytona 500 pole: #24-Jeff Gordon won the Coors Light pole for the Daytona 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway with speed of 201.293mph for his 1st pole of 2015 and 78th of his career. Gordon has won 20 races from the pole out of 77 previous poles.
#48-Jimmie Johnson will start 2nd on the outside pole. The rest of the top 12: #11-Hamlin (speed disallowed), #20-Kenseth, #18-Busch, #5-Kahne, #19-Edwards, #33-Ty Dillon, #3-Austin Dillon, #88-Earnhardt Jr.(speed disallowed), #1-McMurray and #78-Truex Jr.
#11-Hamlin was fastest in round 1, group A at 199.840; #43-Almirola was fastest in round 1, group B at 202.370mph. #48-Johnson was fastest in round 2 at 201.925mph.
During round 1, group A there was a wreck when #15-Bowyer tried to pass #44-Sorenson, came back up and turned the #44, sending both cars into the wall. #32-Labonte rear-ended the #15 and had heavy damage. Other cars damaged were #11-Hamlin and #23-Yeley. Labonte and Yeley advanced to round 2, but cars were too damaged to run.
Both #11-Hamlin and #88-Earnhardt Jr. failed post-qualifying inspection and will start at the rear of the field in their respective duels as they had their times disallowed.
Speeds counted from any of the three qualifying rounds which locked #43-Aric Almirola, #17-Stenhouse Jr., #19-Edwards and #1-Jamie McMurray.(NASCAR Newswire)
CORRECTION: Thirteen drivers are locked into the Daytona 500: #24-Gordon (pole), #48-Johnson (outside pole), #43-Almirola (speed, any round 202.340), #17-Stenhouse Jr. (speed), #19-Edwards (speed), #1-McMurray (speed), #4-Harvick (2014 owners points, 1st), #31-Newman (points, 2nd), #11-Hamlin (points, 3rd), #22-Logano (points, 4th), #2-Keselowski (points, 5th), #20-Kenseth (points 7th) and #14-Stewart (champions provisional).
See round-by-round qualifying speeds below.
See Budweiser Duel 150 starting lineups on the 2015 Budweiser Duel 150's News and Info page.(2-15-2015)

Drivers Locked into the Daytona 500: Thirteen drivers are locked into the Daytona 500: #24-Gordon (pole), #48-Johnson (outside pole), #43-Almirola (speed, any round 202.340), #17-Stenhouse Jr. (speed), #19-Edwards (speed), #1-McMurray (speed), #4-Harvick (2014 owners points, 1st), #31-Newman (points, 2nd), #11-Hamlin (points, 3rd), #22-Logano (points, 4th), #2-Keselowski (points, 5th), #20-Kenseth (points 7th) and #14-Stewart (past champion provisional).
Next ten fastest after the four locked in by speed are: #55-Waltrip, #18-Busch, #3-Dillon, #5-Kahne, #33-Ty Dillon, #20-Kenseth, #78-Truex Jr., #83-Sauter, #23-Yeley and #9-Hornish Jr.
Next ten highest owners points positions (not locked in by speed) after the six locked in by 2014 points are: #6-Bayne (using #99 owners points from 2014), #88-Earnhardt Jr., #18-Busch, #47-Allmendinger, #16-Biffle, #41-Busch, #5-Kahne, #42-Larson, #15-Bowyer, #3-Dillon and #27-Menard
Other drivers besides Stewart who could use the champions provisional NOT already locked into the race would be: #41-Busch and #32-Labonte. All other past champs are locked in.
Six drivers have to race into the field or fall back on speed as their team is not high enough in 2014 owners points to use a provisional: #21-Blaney, #46-Annett, #44-Sorenson, #29-Marks, #34-Ragan (team swapped owners points with #35 team) and #30-Hornaday.
Four drivers will not be able to use speed to get into the race: #66-Wallace, #30-Hornaday, #11-Hamlin (speed disallowed in qualifying) and #88-Earnhardt Jr. (speed disallowed in qualifying).
See round-by-round qualifying speeds and best overall speeds (any round) on the Daytona 500 Qualifying page.
See Budweiser Duel 150 starting lineups on the 2015 Budweiser Duel 150's News and Info page.

Qualifying Fast Facts - Daytona:
#24-Jeff Gordon won the Coors Light Pole Award for the The 57th Annual Daytona 500 with a lap of 44.711 seconds, 201.293 mph.
This is his 78th pole in 762 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
This is his first pole and first top-10 start in 2015.
This is his fourth pole in 45 races at Daytona International Speedway.
#48-Jimmie Johnson (second) posted his first top-10 start of 2015 and his 19th in 27 races at Daytona International Speedway.
Hendrick Motorsports has swept the front row of the Daytona 500 four times: 2015, 2011, 2010 and 1989.
Jeff Gordon's pole speed is the first official pole above 200 mph at Daytona since 1987 (Bill Elliott, 210.364 mph)
(NASCAR Statistics)(2-15-2015)

Qualifying Progression:
driver that was fastest after the first session, the second session and the pole winner from the final session of group qualifying.
First Session, group A: #11-Hamlin, 199.840mph, starts TBD
First Session, group B: #43-Almirola, 202.370, starts TBD
Second Session: #48-Johnson, 201.925mph, starts 2nd
Final Session: #24-Gordon, 201.293mph, starts 1st on the pole
with #48-Johnson, 201.135mph on the outside pole

Daytona 500 Qualifying Round 1: Round 1 of qualifying for the Daytona 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway is over. With 1:22 left in the round 1 group A, #15-Bowyer tried to pass #44-Sorenson, came back up and turned the #44, sending both cars into the wall, #32-Labonte rear-ended the #15. Other cars damaged were #11-Hamlin (the fastest in this round) and #23-Yeley. #11-Hamlin was the fastest at 199.840mph followed by #3-Dillon 199.607mph. The top 24 will be decided once Round 1 Group B goes out and runs their speeds.
#43-Almirola ran the fastest in group B with a speed of 202.370 mph:
#17-Stenhouse Jr. 202.334
#19-Edwards 202.315
#48-Johnson 202.297
#1-McMurray 202.247
the rest of the top 24: 55 18 88 5 20 11 3 83 24 29 9 21 16 32 2 6 22 78 33;
out of the top 24 and not advancing to round 2: 27 7 47 31 4 41 14 10 13 62 46 51 42 38 95 26 15 44 29 34 35 98 40 66 30
Driver who will miss the race: will be decided in the Budweiser Duel 150's.
(2-15-2015)

Second Round of Qualifying for the Daytona 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway is over after 5 scheduled minutes.
#48-Johnson 201.925
#11-Hamlin 201.839
#1-McMurray 201.649
#24-Gordon 201.342
#3-Dillon 201.108
the rest of the top 12: 33 20 18 19 88 78 5;
out of the top 12 and not advancing to round 3: 83 16 6 9 43 17 2 21 22 55 23 32
(2-15-2015)

Coverage of Qualifying for the Daytona 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway is scheduled for Sunday, February 15, 2015 at 1:30pm/et.Television (TV): FOX, 1:30pm/etRadio: Live online at Motor Racing Network (MRN)Scheduled Qualifying Re-Air: Tuesday, February 17, 2015 at 10:00am/et on FS1.

Qualifying Races Coverage of the Budweiser Duel 150 qualifying races for the Daytona 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway are scheduled for Thursday, February 19, 2015.Television (TV): FS1 at 7:00 pm/et; Pre-Race show at 5:00pm/et; green flag approx. 7:20pm/etRadio: Motor Racing Network (MRN) and Sirius XM Satellite NASCAR Radio 90Scheduled Race Re-Airs:
Friday, February 20 at 3:00am/et on FoxSports1
Friday, February 20 at 7:00am/et on FoxSports2
More information on the Budweiser Duels page

Friday final practice: for the Daytona 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway is over, after 85 scheduled minutes, the fastest:
#88-Earnhardt Jr. 194.405
#5-Kahne 193.528
#48-Johnson 193.096
#10-Patrick 192.810
#21-Blaney 192.781
slowest: #34-Ragan 188.553 and #35-Whitt 189.278
25 of 43 cars have made runs.
notes: #10-Patrick, in a backup car, had smoke appear from under the car, ended up being a loose water line or gasket, the team made repairs and the car went back out on the track.
See fastest speeds, laps run, best 10 consecutive lap average on the Daytona 500 Practice 7 Speeds page (pdf).(2-20-2015)

1st Wednesday practice: for the Daytona 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway is over, after 45 scheduled minutes, the top five, slowest and notes:
#18-Busch 200.776
#48-Johnson 200.530
#6-Bayne 200.053
#5-Kahne 199.858
#31-Newman 199.645
slowest: #30-Hornaday 188.913 and #17-Stenhouse Jr. 191.290
43 of 49 cars have been on the track.
Notes: a few minutes into practice #10-Patrick and #11-Hamlin made contact, sending the #10 sliding down and into #46-Annett, also collecting #26-Burton. The #10 team will go to a backup car, The #46 team is getting the #51 backup out to get ready for the Budweiser Duels.
See fastest speeds, laps run, best 10 consecutive lap average on the Daytona 500 Practice Speeds page (pdf).(2-18-2015)

1st Wednesday practice: for the Daytona 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway is over, after 45 scheduled minutes, the top five, slowest and notes:
#18-Busch 200.776
#48-Johnson 200.530
#6-Bayne 200.053
#5-Kahne 199.858
#31-Newman 199.645
slowest: #30-Hornaday 188.913 and #17-Stenhouse Jr. 191.290
43 of 49 cars have been on the track.
Notes: a few minutes into practice #10-Patrick and #11-Hamlin made contact, sending the #10 sliding down and into #46-Annett, also collecting #26-Burton. The #10 team will go to a backup car, The #46 team is getting the #51 backup out to get ready for the Budweiser Duels.
See fastest speeds, laps run, best 10 consecutive lap average on the Daytona 500 Practice Speeds page (pdf).(2-18-2015)

Second practice for the Daytona 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway is over, after 115 scheduled minutes, the top five, slowest and notes:
#95-McDowell 199.322
#48-Johnson 199.313
#33-Dillon 199.300
#5-Kahne 199.080
#24-Gordon 199.058
slowest: #46-Annett 192.025 & #30-Hornaday 192.299.
42 of 49 drivers made runs
no runs / speed: #'s 1, 4, 15, 20, 41, 43, 55NOTES: #31-Newman and #78-Truex Jr. both trailed smoke about 20 minutes into practice. Newman lost an engine and the team will change it. So Newman will start at the rear of the field for the Budweiser Duel. The #78 had a cracked oil pan and the team plans to make repairs without changing the engine.
See the speeds, laps run on the Practice 2 Speeds (pdf).(2-14-2015)

GREEN = are locked in the Daytona 500 field by having the one of the top four speeds of those not on the front row

BLUE = are locked in the Daytona 500 field by owners points/provisionals

PURPLE = locked in the Daytona field, at least by the past champions provisional
#41-Busch & #32-Labonte also have it available to use if Stewart doesn't need it
all other past champions are locked in by other speed, front row spots or owners points.

RED = has to make the field racing in via their Budweiser Duel finish or qualifying speed
not eligible for a provisional starting spot, team is not high enough in previous season owners points

PC1 = is the first past champ eligible, PC2 is the 2nd...and so on if more

Ties are broken as follows:
1) Owners Points
2) Best finishes, most wins, 2nds, 3rds and so on until the tie is broken
3) If tie still remains, then the team with the highest position first breaks the tie
(so if two are ties, both have a win, then the team who won first gets the spot)

GREEN = are locked in the Daytona 500 field, either by winning the pole, outside pole, four by speed (of any round), six by previous season owners points/provisionals and one past champion provisional if needed

PC1 = is the first past champ eligible, PC2 is the 2nd...and so on if more

Ties are broken as follows:
1) Owners Points
2) Best finishes, most wins, 2nds, 3rds and so on until the tie is broken
3) If tie still remains, then the team with the highest position first breaks the tie
(so if two are ties, both have a win, then the team who won first gets the spot)

Qualifying order is a random draw. A team member draws a bingo like ball just before the first practice of the event.

1) Daytona 500 Coors Light Pole Qualifying
* Qualifying will consist of three rounds with the first round divided into two groups based on a random draw. Vehicles drawing an odd number will be in the first group with even numbers in the second group. The first round is five minutes, and the 24 fastest cars advance to the second round. Following a 10-minute break, the second round will be five minutes with the fastest 12 advancing to the third and final round. A seven-minute break will precede the third round, which will last five minutes. The top two cars will make up the front row for the Daytona 500.
* The Duel at Daytona, two 150-mile qualifying races, will determine starting positions for the Daytona 500 beyond the front row. The fastest qualifier in Coors Light Pole Qualifying will be on the pole for the first Duel at Daytona, and the second-fastest qualifier will be on the pole for the second Duel at Daytona. In the event of cancellation, the field will be set according to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Rule Book.

a) Qualifying will consist of three rounds with the first round divided into two groups based on the random drawing. Those vehicles with an odd numbered random drawing number will be assigned in the first group. Those vehicles with an even numbered random drawing number will be assigned in the second group.b) The first Qualifying round is five minutes in duration for each group, unless otherwise authorized by the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Managing Director.c) There will be a seven-minute break upon completion of the first group.d) The 24 eligible vehicles that post the fastest single lap speed from either first Qualifying round groups will advance to the second Qualifying round.e) The remaining vehicles will be sorted in descending order based on their fastest single lap speed posted in the first round of Qualifying to determine qualifying positions.f) There will be a ten-minute break after the completion of the first Qualifying round and the 24 remaining vehicles that advance to the second Qualifying round will have their speeds reset.g) The second Qualifying round is five minutes in duration and the 12 eligible vehicles that post the fastest single lap speed will advance to the final Qualifying round.h) The remaining vehicles will be sorted in descending order for Qualifying positions 13th - 24th based on their fastest single lap speed posted in second Qualifying round.i) There will be a seven-minute break after the completion of the second Qualifying round and the 12 eligible vehicles that advance to the final Qualifying round will have their speeds reset.j) The final Qualifying round is five minutes in duration and vehicles will be sorted in descending order for Qualifying positions 1st - 12th based on their fastest single lap speed.

Duel at Daytona
* Those cars earning odd-numbered positions from qualifying will be assigned to the first Duel race.
* Those cars earning even-numbered positions from qualifying will compete in the second race.
* The starting positions for each Duel race will also be based on qualifying times.

Daytona 500 lineup
* The two fastest qualifiers during Coors Light Pole Qualifying earn starting positions one and two.
* The highest 15 finishers in each Duel race -- excluding the already locked-in front row -- will earn a spot in the Daytona 500, and fill positions 3-32.
* Based on their finishing position in the first Duel race, the top 15 will line up on the inside row (odd-number starting positions).
* Based on their finishing position in the second Duel race, the top 15 will line up on the outside row (even-number starting positions).
* Positions 33-36 will go to the four fastest cars from any round of Coors Light Pole Qualifying that have not already earned a spot.
* Positions 37-42 will be provisional positions, and go to the highest six cars in previous season owner points that are present, have entered by the entry deadline and have not already qualified via the Duel or Coors Light Pole Qualifying. Set by the last round of qualifying speed driver competed in, round 3 speeds first, then 2nd, etc.
* The 43rd starting position will be assigned to any car owner who has the most recent eligible past NASCAR Sprint Cup champion who did not make the field by any other method, providing the driver had competed in the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup season. If the 43rd position remains unused, it will be assigned to the next highest car in previous season owner points not already locked into the field.

Qualifying sets only Daytona 500 front row: Sunday's Daytona 500 Coors Light Pole qualifying is unique in that only the top two positions will be guaranteed. Remaining qualifiers are seeded by qualifying speed into Thursday's Budweiser Duel, two 150-mile races from which the majority of the final starting grid for the Daytona 500 is set. The front-row qualifiers and the highest 15 finishers in each Duel - excluding the front row from qualifying - will earn a spot in the Daytona 500. The next four fastest Coors Light Pole qualifiers will make up positions 33-36. Six provisional starting positions (37 through 42) will be awarded to the highest eligible car owners in final 2012 standings not otherwise qualified for the race. The 43rd position will be filled by the most recent past champion participating in an event the previous season. Should no past champion be eligible, the final position goes to the next highest owner in previous season points. The most recent Daytona 500 pole winner to win the race was Dale Jarrett in 2000, one of two drivers (Bill Elliott is the other) to sweep The Sprint Unlimited, pole and race in the same season.(NASCAR)